With the end of the January transfer window fast approaching, local clubs have intensified their efforts to further strengthen their squads ahead of the second part of the season.
Birkirkara and Tarxien Rainbows maintained their strong recruitment drive over the past few days.
The Stripes yesterday completed the signing of Croatian striker Matija Smrekar.
The 26-year-old, who has represented his country at all youth levels, is the fifth Croatian player to join Birkirkara this month after goalkeeper Miroslav Kopric, defender Christian Bubalovic, midfielder Mislav Andelkovic and winger Goran Mujanovic, who scored his first goal for the club in the 3-1 league win over St Andrew’s on Wednesday.
Smrekar, who was on the books of Romanian top-flight club CS Pandurii, is in line to make his Birkirkara debut in Sunday’s game against Floriana.
The influx of Croatian players at Birkirkara had been expected after Drazen Besek succeeded Italian Giovanni Tedesco, now in charge of Serie A club Palermo, as first-team coach last month.
Birkirkara, who also acquired Chilean midfielder Edison Bilbao Zarate in an exchange deal involving Malta midfielder Paul Fenech, are set to further boost their attacking options in the coming days.
Senegal-born striker L’Imam Seydi is expected to fly in today to conclude his move to the Premier League club. The 30-year-old Seydi, who also has a French passport, was last registered with FC Aarau, who play in the second tier of Swiss football.
Birkirkara have also revived talks with Sliema Wanderers over Alex Muscat.
Muscat’s decision to sign a new four-year deal with Sliema last week looked to have scuppered Birkirkara’s hopes of signing the Blues captain but the Stripes have not given up hope of agreeing a deal for his transfer.
Tarxien Rainbows continue to make headlines after finalising the signings of three new players.
Alex Nilsson has finally dispelled the speculation over his future after the Swedish striker sealed his switch to Tarxien.
Tarxien had been on Nilsson’s trail for several weeks after the latter fell out of favour at Qormi but negotiations stalled last week amid reports that the 23-year-old had made up his mind to return to Sweden.
However, Tarxien, who have reached the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy, renewed their efforts to sign Nilsson this week and a deal was finally reached on Wednesday.
The Rainbows have also brought in right-back John Mintoff on a loan deal from Sliema Wanderers with an option to make his move permanent at the end of the season.
Mintoff, who has eight Malta caps, will be hoping to relaunch his career with Tarxien after falling down the pecking order at Sliema.
Spanish winger Sergio Fernandez Prendes also joined Tarxien yesterday. The 29-year-old, who started his career with Spanish club Sporting Gijon, last played for Mexican club Atletico San Luis.
The Rainbows are also engaged in efforts to sign an Argentine striker who forms part of his country’s Under-20 squad.
Apart from Brazilian duo Danilo and Anderson, who were released a few weeks ago, Tarxien this week offloaded another four players, Japanese Ren Mizugashira, Nigerian winger Lucky Omeruo, Gaetano Gesualdi and Darren Sciberras.
Meanwhile, Hibernians are expected to give a trial to a Serbian goalkeeper.
Two other foreign goalkeepers, from the Netherlands and Ghana, have been training with the Paolites for the past few weeks as the champions are in the market for an experienced shot-stopper.
Hibernians are still believed to be interested in Malta goalkeeper Justin Haber but discussions with Birkirkara over his transfer have failed to lead to an agreement so far.
Brazilian midfielder Emerson Marcelina is likely to be Floriana’s last signing of the current transfer window.
Marcelina has rejoined Floriana on loan after failing to make an impact at Birkirkara.
Floriana, who parted with Nigerian forward Simeon Eseadi, have also signed young goalkeeper Matthew Grech.
Priso back in Malta
Njongo Priso has yet to sign for a new club after his proposed move to Turkish club Samsuspor hit a snag.
The Cameroonian winger had even started training with Samsuspor after annulling his contract with Valletta but negotiations over his contract broke down this week, prompting Priso to return to Malta.
In Italy, Lega Pro club AC Pavia yesterday confirmed on their website that they have reached agreement with Birkirkara to sign midfielder Rowen Muscat on loan until the end of the season with an option to buy him outright.